Dr. Bonnie L. Karrigan

Bonnie Louise Karrigan, 74, Clarksville, TN, died on Saturday, June 29th, 2024 at home with family after a courageous battle against cancer. Bonnie chose to live with cancer instead of die with cancer and maintained a gracious and genteel attitude until the very end.

Memorial events will take place in the Old Chapel of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarksville, TN on Saturday, July 13th. A Rosary will be said at 11:00 am, and visitation will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. with Father Eric Fowlkes officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Clarksville.

Bonnie was born on July 20th, 1949 in Fort Campbell, KY, the first of ten children. She was preceded in death by parents Jerome Edward Karrigan and Janie Burkhart Karrigan; sister Mary Ann Janese; brother Edward Karrigan; brothers-in-law Richard Janese, Ronnie Gray, and Jerry Beard; and nephews Richard and Daniel Janese. She is survived by siblings Dennis (Vicki) Karrigan, Katherine (Ricky) Clawson, Cindy Gray, Teresa (David) Alford, Cecilia (Larry) Hagar, Caroline (Randy) Frost, and Amy (Mitchell) Wright. Bonnie loved and was proud of her nieces and nephews Heather Gomez and Callie Karrigan; Laura Toliver and Chad Miracle; Janie Alford; Austin, Alexander, and Jackson Hagar; Katherine and Carson Wright. She is also survived by a host of family and friends, as well as her dogs Domino and Poblita and her cats Clairol and Zebra.

Bonnie was a graduate of Clarksville High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English and French and a Master’s in English from Austin Peay State University. She later earned her Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University. Her love for knowledge was apparent through her endeavors as a scholar and educator, having taught ninth-grade English and AP English courses at Fort Campbell High School for over 40 years. Additionally, she was an adjunct professor at her alma mater, APSU. Her family lovingly called her “Dr. Bunnye,” and said that she was Google before Google and spellcheck before spellcheck.

Bonnie was passionate about family, education, literature, current events, animal rescue, and her faith. She was the family historian of our Irish heritage and maintained relationships with relatives near and far. She encouraged all her siblings to pursue higher education. Bonnie’s students witnessed her commitment to teaching when she showed up to class at Fort Campbell High School despite all other surrounding counties being closed for inclement weather. At APSU, she was a regular donor and generously maintained a scholarship in her parents’ honor. She always had a book in her hand and a news channel on in the background. She rescued multiple pets and fed every stray in the neighborhood. Her devotion to the Catholic church was exemplified by her generosity to the homeless, her presence in the pews every Sunday, knowing every hymn by heart, encouraging family members to keep their faith, and going to nursing homes to say the Rosary with fellow parishioners and friends until her illness prevented her from doing so.

The Karrigan family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. David Allen, Dr. Alana Brown, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (Belle Meade), Amedisys Home Health, and AseraCare Hospice.

Honorary pallbearers will be her brother and brothers-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarksville, the Jerome and Janie Burkhart Karrigan Endowment at APSU, or the Humane Society of Clarksville-Montgomery County.

Online condolences may be made at www.navefuneralhomes.com